ROWAN, Sophia 1889-1981

ROWAN, POTGETER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/11/2014 at 16:30:07

Sophia Rowan, Age 92, Dead

Sophia Rowan, daughter of Henry and Rika Potgeter, was born in Grundy County, Iowa, January 21, 1889. She died at age 92 in Ellsworth Hospital, Iowa Falls, July 20, 1981.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 22, 1981 at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. Bruce Baillie officiating. Mrs. Betty Asher and Mrs. Carol Williams provided special music accompanied by Mrs. Lee Pieters on the organ. Pallbearers were Ed Potgeter, Dick Cooper, Larry Williams, Jim Potgeter, Herman Primus and Ben VanHove. Ushers were Otto Filbrandt and Ron Havens. Burial was in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery, Steamboat Rock, Iowa.

Sophia grew up in her parents' home in Steamboat Rock. In 1913, she was graduated from the University of Iowa School of Nursing, then became surgical nurse in the University hospital. At the beginning of World War I, Sophia joined the Red Cross and served with the U.S. Army, spending 15 months in England and France. Following the war, she held the position of head surgical nurse in the University of Iowa hospital for several years. After leaving that position, she did similar work in the University of New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque, later organized clinics for crippled children throughout Iowa, and for five years was superintendent of a hospital for crippled children in connection with the University of Chicago. After that, Sophia married Dr. Charles Rowan and moved to Laguna Beach, California. When her husband died, she returned to Steamboat Rock to care for her aged mother. She remained living there until her death. Sophia is survived by two sisters, Fannie Potgeter of Steamboat Rock and Alice Potgeter of St. Paul, Minnesota, three sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 July 1981, pg 3